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Eastern North Pacific Tropical Weather Discussion


000
AXPZ20 KNHC 162049
TWDEP 

Tropical Weather Discussion
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL
2205 UTC Mon Mar 16 2026

Tropical Weather Discussion for the eastern Pacific Ocean from
03.4S to 30N, east of 120W including the Gulf of California, and
from the Equator to 30N, between 120W and 140W. The following
information is based on satellite imagery, weather observations,
radar, and meteorological analysis.

Based on 1800 UTC surface analysis and satellite imagery through
2030 UTC.

...SPECIAL FEATURES...
Gulf of Tehuantepec Gale Warning: High pressure will build 
across eastern Mexico in the wake of a cold front moving into 
southern Mexico late this evening. The pressure gradient between
this area of high pressure and the equatorial trough will 
support gale force gap winds across the Tehuantepec region 
starting tonight and persisting into mid week. Near-gale force 
gap winds and rough seas may pulse again across the Tehuantepec 
region Thu and Fri. 

Please read the latest HIGH SEAS FORECAST issued by the National
Hurricane Center at website - 
https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/MIAHSFEP2.shtml for more
information. 

...INTERTROPICAL CONVERGENCE ZONE/MONSOON TROUGH...

A surface trough extends from 08N83W to 01N115W. The ITCZ 
extends from 06N125W to beyond 03S140W. Scattered moderate
convection is evident from 04S to 00N between 100W and 105W.

...OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF MEXICO...

Please see Special Features above for more on an upcoming gale
warning in the Gulf of Tehuantepec. 

A weak pressure gradient is generating light to gentle winds 
across much of the forecast area, except moderate winds off Cabo
San Lucas and Cabo Corrientes. Moderate seas prevail over the 
open waters, with slight seas in the Gulf of California.

For the forecast aside from the Gulf of Tehuantepec gale warning,
a weak pressure pattern over the region will maintain gentle to 
moderate breezes and and moderate seas over the open waters off 
Mexico, with slight to moderate seas in the Gulf of California. 

....OFFSHORE WATERS WITHIN 250 NM OF CENTRAL AMERICA, COLOMBIA, 
AND WITHIN 750 NM OF ECUADOR...

Moderate gap winds are over the Gulf of Papagayo and in the Gulf
of Panama. Light to gentle winds are noted elsewhere. SW swell 
of 6-7 ft covers most of the regional waters except for in the 
lee of the Galapagos Islands. 

For the forecast, large NE swell may impact the offshore waters 
of Guatemala Tue through late Wed related to gale force gap winds
over the Gulf of Tehuantepec. Gentle breezes and moderate seas 
will prevail elsewhere through mid week. 

...REMAINDER OF THE AREA...

A weak pressure gradient across the area is supporting mostly 
gentle to moderate winds across the region. Moderate wave 
heights in the 5-7 ft range prevail.

For the forecast, large N to NE swell generated from the upcoming
Gulf of Tehuantepec gale force gap wind event will briefly bring
rough seas mainly from 08N to 12N and east of 100W. Otherwise, 
moderate or weaker winds and moderate seas will prevail across 
the region through the latter part of the week.

$$
Christensen